Printing press



Feb. 27, 19341. B. c. sTlcKNEY PRINTING PRESS Original Filed March 27. 1926 4 Sheets-'Sheet l Feb. 27, 1934. B. c. sTlcKNEY 1,949,223

PRINTING PRESS Original Filed March 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventar:

QM W

Feb. 2'?, 1934,

B. G. STICKNEYl PRINTING PRESS Original Filed March 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /n Ven/Lan Feb. 2?, 1934., B, c. sTlcKNEY ,949,223

PRINTING PRESS Original Filed March 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Fei). 27, lg3d UNITED Fatent No. l,763,679, dated June 17,

1930. Divided and this application March 6,

11 Claims.

This invention relates mainly to web-perfecting rotary printing presses, especially those in which stereotypes or electrotypes curve around a revolving cylinder.

It is the usual practice to employ inking rollers capable of inking the printing cylinders for the entire length of the latter, and these rollers on account of their great length are heavily built, and it is the practice to make them of great diameter, all of which is objectionable; and further objection arises because of the difculty of printing some of the forms in different colors from others on the same side of the web. The rollers are expensive, and a slight defect at any point usually makes it necessary to replace an expensive roller.

To overcome these and other objections, and to expedite the operation of getting the press ready, there are provided sets of inking rollers, and usually one set is provided for each of the forms which are printed side by side upon the web. If the fan-fold web, for example, is to be folded up into eight plies, four of which plies are printed on one side with a succession of forms, and four plies printed on the other side with a succession of forms, then there will be employed preferably eight sets of inking rollers, each with its own ink fountain. These inking sets, however, are made adjustable longitudinally of the printing cylinders, so as to accommodate forms of different widths, and also to permit locating the forms in any desired points on the cylinders. While in the illustrations each of the inking rolls is shown of the length for one form, it is obvious that the inking rollers may be made each of a length of two forms, thereby bridging the space between the two forms, or even three forms in some cases. There are used light rollers of small diameter, which are cheap and not liable to fatal injury. Injury to one roller is not serious, because it can be cheaply replaced, without replacing other inking rollers in the same or other sets. Each set of rollers is mounted upon a carriage or frame which is adjustable along guideways provided upon the framework of the press, and wherever adjusted the carriage may be clamped. Each fountain may carry the same colors as the other ink fountains, or a diiferent color, thus giving a wide range of differences in colors to be simultaneously printed.

A single distributing roll may be made to answer for the entire length of each printing couple, and may be driven by power, and each of the inkroller carriages may have one or more rolls to run upon this common distributing roll. The ink is Serial No. 433,558

(Cl. lill-351) taken from the fountain in the individual carriage and transferred by an individual roll to the main distributing roll at any point where the roll carriage is adjusted, and other rolls on each carriage may also run upon the power distributing C3v roll. The surface speed of the power distributing roll may be higher, for example twice the surface speed of the printing cylinder, thereby doubling the extent to which the ink is distributed; and an individual transfer roll running at CU high speed upon a distributing roll is shifted over to one of comparatively low speed upon the form rolls.

Said power distributing roll is common to all the carriages, and the same is true of a cam-shaft which extends the length of the press and controls the individual transfer of ink from any fountain to the power distributing roll, and also the transfer from the power-driven high-speed distributing rolls to the form rolls.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 97,846, led March 27, 1926 (now Patent No. 1,763,679, dated June 17, 1930).

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, all of which are diagrammatic,

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the press, showing mainly the right-hand sections of the printing and impression cylinders, etc.

Figure 2 is a sectional front elevation of the press, showing right and left hand sections of the lower type cylinder and also of the upper impression cylinder.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to 9o Figure 2, but showing the gear end of the press on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the gearing. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the upper type cylinder at Figure 1, together with one of 95 the detachable and adjustable inking frames therefor.

Figure 6 is a sectional front elevation showing the manner of adjusting the multiple compensators between the printing couples.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of one of the individually adjustable ink-roller frames.

A single-width web 2l, of about half the width of the press seen at Figure 2, is led up at the right-hand side of the press between type and 105 impression cylinders 22, 23 of the rst printing couple, Figure l, and then up between the type and impression cylinders 24, 25 of the second or upper printing couple, whereby the web is perfected. From thence it is led up around a com- 110 pensating roll 54 and down to a pair of punching and perforating cylinders 27, 28, from which it passes to feed-rolls 29, 36 at the rear or delivery end of the press.

The plan is discarded, which is common m web presses, of using ink-rollers of about the same length as the type cylinders, because of the objectionably great diameter and weight of said rolls, and their inadaptability to small forms and liability to small injuries which render the whole roll useless; and also because of the difficulty in using more than one color of ink throughout the length of the roll. To overcome these objections and gain further advantages, there is employed a series of ink-roll sets, the rolls in each set being a little longer than the length oi a type form 97, and each series of rolis being mounted in a frame and forming therewith a unit, which is settable or adjustable to any desired point or zone along the type cylinder. Sets of units of assorted sizes may be kept in reserve, for use with forms of different lengths. While there is illustrated a unit which is about co-extensive in length with one of the forms, it will be understood that the length of any unit may be doubled, or tripled, so as to ink two or more of said forms if desired.

An assortment of sizes of units may be kept in reserve, some of fractional size as compared with those illustrated, and some double size, and so on. Each Luiit may comprise a pair or side plates 248, Figures 1, 5 and 7, between which extend inking rollers, several of which may be journaled in the side plates. The side plates may be connected by a top cross-bar 249 and a bottom cross-bar 250, which bars may be integral with the plates. Between the plates may also extend an ink-fountain 251, with its doctor roll 252, which may have a drive ratchet 253 operable by a pawl mechanism 254. It is usual 'in printing presses to control the feed of ink side plates 248. Tne arms 256 are swung 1n one by means of the pawl mechanism. There is shown a separate pawl mechanism for each roller set, giving individual control. From the doctor roll the ink is taken by a transfer roll 255, which is journaled upon a pair of vibratory arms 256, which are mounted upon a rock-shaft 257 journaled at its ends in the side plates 248. This roll 255 transfers the ink to a distributing roll 258 having a shaft 259 iournaled at its ends in the direction by means of a spring 260, and in the other direction by means oi a power-driven camshaft 261, which extends the full width of the press and is common to all the sets of ink rolls at the front of the press. The distributing roll 258 runs upon a power-driven distributing cylinder 262 extending the full width oi.' the press, and also common to all of the inking sets at the front of the press, wherever they are adjusted. Upon this distributing cylinder also run distributing rolls 263 and 264, similar to 258. In contact with the last roll 264 runs a transferinliing roll 265 which may be of relatively great diam- .eter, and mounted upon arms 266 integral with tl e vibrating arms 256, and swinging up intermittently away from the roll 264 and into contact with a form roll 267. There is also provided another forni roll 268, and a third roll 269 :rides upon the form rolls. The form and rider rolls may be mounted upon a swiveled frame 270,

pivoted between the ends of arms 271 that are fast upon a rock-shaft 272, the ends of which are journaled in the side plates 248; a spring 273 keeping the form rolls in contact with the form. Preferably a stop 274 is engaged by an arm 275 integral with 271 and prevents overswinging of the form rolls. At Figure 5, which shows one of the inliing units at the iront or the press, the power for driving the inking devices is supplied by a short Vertical counter shaft 276, whose lower end has a beveled pinion 277 meshing with a beveled gear 278 fixed upon the shaft 176 of the impression cylinder 23 or" the lower couple. A worm 279 on said shaft meshes with a wcrmovheel 286, which revolves the cam" shaft 261, at low speed, the shaft 261 being engageable by the rolls 281 on the lower ends of the vibrating arms 256 oi the various inking units, so that init is transferred from all the doctor rolls 252 to all of the distributing rolls 258 in the sets of the inking units, and so that the transer rolls 255 and 265 are also operated, the cam 261 driving the arms 256 in one direction, and the springs 260 returning the arms towards the right at Figure 5. Also mounted on said shaft 276 is a beveled gear 282, meshing with a beveled pinion 283 upon a shaft 284 of the distributing cylinder 262, which accordingly is efective upon all the distributing rolls 258, 263, 264 in all of the sets, which may be arranged side by side along this part of the press. The disributing cylinder 262 may revolve at twice the surface speed of the type cylinder 24, or at a higher rate, so as to accelerate and promote the distribution of ink; the transfer roll 265 revolving at 'nigh speed when riding upon the distrib` uting roll 264, and revolving at low speed when riding upon the form roll 267. It will be seen that owing partly to the large circumference of the roll 265, which is equal to more than half ci? the height (circumference) of the highest type form, and partly to the speed of distribution secured by the rapid cylinder 262, an even distribution may be secured.

The inking unit traine 248, 249, 256 is adjustable along guide rails 265, 286 formed in the JTont and rear of the press, extending from the midway walls or partitions to the sides oi the press and integral therewith. A sufficient space is left between Ithe upper and lower tracks 285, 286 to permit the inking unit to be inserted between them to its worhng position, and to be withdrawn from the press. unit may be clamped in place by iinger-nuts 287 threaded upon studs 288 projecting outwardly from bars 249, 256, said nuts having ilanges 289 which catch on the rear sides of ledges 296 that frame the openings in the front and rear walls of the press. The rails 285, 266 lie at some distance inwardly rrom said ledges 290, to give room for the studs 288 and flanges 289. Each flange 289 is cut away at 291; and, when said cutaway is rotated to horizontal position, the flange clears ledges 296, permitting the withdrawal of the inking unit from the press.

t will be understood that the inking may employ all same color of ink, or each may employ a dierent color independently of the other units, and that the distributing cylinder' 262 can accordingly accommodate a succession oi' difierent colors received from the different units, without bleeding of color from an unit upon the succeeding type form.

1't will be seen that the distributing rolls 258, 263, 264 are all at the left or upper side of the distributing cylinder 262, which remains in the press when the inlring unit is detached, so that said rolls are easily withdrawn from the cylinder..

In detaching, it is preferable to draw the bottom or" the inking unit forwardly until the top roll 264 is forward of the distributing cylinder 262, and then to let the inking unit descend as it is being withdrawn forwardly from the press.

The inking rolls in each unit are all of the same diameter and short, and therefore inexpensive and long-lived, and not open to the objection of cumbersomeness, as in the case of rolls which usually extend the entire length of the printing cylinder. Moreover, no more ink is distributed than is necessary, which is an advantage, particularly where only one narrow web is being printed, which may, in some cases, be only the width of one of the narrow forms seen at 98. Moreover, great convenience is secured, in that a light supply of ink may be arranged for one form, and a heavy supply of ink for another form, as required.

If desired, the screw stud 288 at the upper part of Figure 5 may be made hollow and the nut may be provided with a guide stem extending into the hollow; but the simple form seen at the lower part of Figure 5 is preferred.

The inking devices at the rear of the press for the type cylinder 22 in the lower couple, may

be driven directly by the main drive shaft 8'7,

Figure 4, which may have at its bottom end a crown worm 292 meshing with a worm-wheel 293 on a slow cam-shaft 294 corresponding with 261. Above said worm on said shaft may be arranged 'a helical gear 295, meshing with a helical gear 296 mounted directly upon the shaft 297 of an inking cylinder 298 corresponding with 262. The other inking parts are similar to those already described, as will be understood. Preferably any "'lunit may be used at any part of the press, upper or lower, back or front, the units being interchangeable. Preferably there is used only one screw stud 288 and ange nut 289 at the bottom of each inking unit frame, this single 'nut having a position midway of the top ange nuts, so that when the nuts are turned, the frame may be securely tightened and proper pressure secured between its rolls and the members of the press with which they contact. Each frame Imay be guided vertically by means of an outturned ledge 299 formed upon each of the upper tracks 285 in each set of tracks; the upper bar 249 of the ink frame having a recess 300 within which said ledge 299 projects, thus permitting the lbar 249 to ride upon said ledge, and thus locating 'ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guideways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along said guideways, means for securing each set while adjusted, a single ink-distributing roll for all the sets for .said printing cylinder, and means for driving said roll.

2. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms Aupon said cylinder, each set including its own I... It)

ink-fountain and its own form rollers, and a power-driven distributing roll associated with the printing cylinder, the rollers in said sets co-operating with said distributing roll and being adjustable therealong.

3. In a printing press, the combination with a printing Vcouple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guideways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along said guideways, means for securing each set while adjusted, a single ink-distributing roll for all the sets for said printing cylinder, and means for driving said roll, the surface speed of the distributing roll being greater than the surface speed of the printing cylinder.

4. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guideways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along said guideways, means for securing each set while adjusted, a single ink-distributing roll for all the sets for said printing cylinder, means for driving said roll, the sLuface speed of the distributing roll being greater than the surface speed of the printing cylinder, a transfer roll to run upon said distributing roll, and means for automatically shifting said transfer roll intermittently to deposit ink upon a form roll.

5. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, a power-driven distributing roll associated with the printing cylinder, the rollers in said sets cooperating with said distributing roll and being adjustable therealong, and means including a power-driven cam-shaft extending the length of the printing cylinder for controlling the individual transfer of ink from the fountains to the power-distributing roll.

6. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, a power-driven distributing roll associated with the printing cylinder, the rollers in said sets co-operating with said distributing roll and being adjustable therealong, and means including a power-driven cam-shaft extending the length of the printing cylinder for controlling the individual transfer of ink from the fountains to the powerdistributing roll and also the transfer from the power-distributing roll to the form rolls.

7. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its shaft extending the length of the printing cylinder and common to all the units.

8. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, and

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a power-driven distributing roll associated with the printing cylinder', the rollers in said sets cooperating with said distributing roll and being adjustable therealong, each set including a plurality of rolls running upon said power-driven distributing roll.

9. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guide- Ways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along said guideways, and means for securing each set while adjusted, space being left between said guide- Ways to permit the insertion and Withdrawal of the units.

1G. In a printing press, the combination with a primary printing couple including a main printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms located at various points along the same cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guide- Ways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along said guideivays, each set having studs, and nuts threaded upon said studs to secure the sets upon the press.

11. In a printing press, the combination with a printing couple including a printing cylinder, of a row of sets of inking rollers for individual forms upon said cylinder, each set including its own ink-fountain and its own form rollers, guide- Ways being provided on said press along said cylinder and each set being adjustable along Said guideways, each set having studs, and nuts threaded upon said studs to secure the sets upon the press, each nut having a cut-away portion permitting the Withdrawal of the set from the press. BURNHAM C. STICKNEY. 

